Jocham Gerhard, Ullsperger Markus
Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Cognitive Neurology Research Group, Gleueler Strasse 50, D-50931 Cologne, Germany.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2009 Jan;33(1):48-60. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.08.011. Epub 2008 Aug 22.
Adaptive, goal-directed behavior requires that organisms evaluate their actions in terms of their outcomes. Neuroimaging studies show that unfavorable outcomes or situations with high level of conflict engage the posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC). Recording of event-related potentials revealed that these situations are accompanied by a negative deflection, the so-called error-related negativity (ERN), which appears after an erroneous response or after negative feedback. Both activation of the pMFC and the ERN are thought to represent a signal that indicates the need for behavioral adjustment, and to recruit other brain regions that implement these adjustments. While many fMRI and EEG studies have shed light on the anatomical structures and the cognitive processes involved in performance monitoring, only very recently have researchers begun to investigate the underlying neurochemical mechanisms. Drawing on the putative involvement of dopamine (DA) neurons in coding a reward prediction error, an influential theory has ascribed a pivotal role to DA in performance monitoring. However, although important, DA is certainly not the only neuromodulator involved. Recent studies point to a role for serotonin, norepinephrine and GABA, but also for adenosine in performance monitoring. Here, we review the evidence for neurotransmitter effects on this function in humans. In this light, we critically discuss currently debated models of performance monitoring and potential alternatives.
适应性的、目标导向行为要求生物体根据行为结果来评估自身行动。神经影像学研究表明，不利结果或高度冲突的情境会激活后内侧前额叶皮质（pMFC）。事件相关电位记录显示，这些情境伴随着一个负向偏转，即所谓的错误相关负波（ERN），它出现在错误反应之后或负面反馈之后。pMFC的激活和ERN都被认为代表一种信号，表明需要进行行为调整，并招募其他实施这些调整的脑区。虽然许多功能磁共振成像（fMRI）和脑电图（EEG）研究已经阐明了与绩效监测相关的解剖结构和认知过程，但直到最近研究人员才开始探究其潜在的神经化学机制。基于多巴胺（DA）神经元在编码奖励预测误差方面的假定作用，一种有影响力的理论认为DA在绩效监测中起关键作用。然而，尽管DA很重要，但它肯定不是唯一涉及的神经调质。最近的研究指出血清素、去甲肾上腺素、γ-氨基丁酸（GABA）以及腺苷在绩效监测中也发挥作用。在此，我们综述了关于神经递质对人类这一功能影响的证据。鉴于此，我们批判性地讨论了目前关于绩效监测的争议模型以及潜在的替代模型。
